Strawberry plant named ‘Margherita’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct short-day strawberry cultivar is provided. Attractive early-ripening substantially uniform bright red conical fruit having a firm flesh is formed in good yields. White inflorescence is formed on an early basis that is disposed at approximately the same level as the foliage. A calyx commonly is displayed that is smaller than the corolla when open. A dense upright globular growth habit is displayed.

Botanical/commercial classification: Fragaria×ananassa Duchesne/Strawberry Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Margherita.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct short-day strawberry cultivar of the present invention was the product of a controlled breeding program that was carried out at Nova Siri (MT) Italy located at 40° 08′ 40″ N.-16° 39′ 40″ E. and 10 meters above sea level. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘Siris’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States and EU No. 34843) and the male parent (i.e., pollen parent) was the ‘Pajaro’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States). The parentage of the new cultivar can be summarized as follows: ‘Siris’×‘Pajaro’.

The seeds resulting from the pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically different from each other. Selective study and testing resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new cultivar.

The new cultivar initially was designated AD.09.06.

It was found that the new short-day strawberry cultivar of the present invention displays the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) exhibits a dense, upright generally globose growth habit,     -   (b) displays on an early basis white inflorescence at         approximately the same level as the foliage,     -   (c) commonly displays a calyx that is generally smaller than the         corolla when open, and     -   (d) forms in abundance early-ripening substantially uniform         large bright red conical fruit having a firm flesh.

The new cultivar of the present invention can be readily distinguished from previously known strawberry cultivars including the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,558) as indicated in detail hereafter.

The new cultivar possesses characteristics that commonly are sought by commercial strawberry growers. Substantially uniform firm bright red early-ripening fruit is provided in good yields. Accordingly, the new cultivar is considered to be a promising new plant introduction.

The new cultivar has been asexually reproduced by the use of stolons at Ochla, Poland located at 51° 848 N.-15° 447 E. and by in vitro tissue culture. No rooting problems were encountered. The combination of characteristics exhibited by the new plant has been found to be stable and is reliably transmitted to succeeding generations following such asexual reproduction. Accordingly, the new cultivar reproduces true-to-type manner by such asexual reproduction.

The new plant has been named ‘Margherita’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this character, typical specimens of the new cultivar as well as typical specimens of the ‘Sabosa’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,558) for comparative purposes. The plants had been asexually reproduced from stolons and were planted under the cover of plastic tunnels during mid-October 2012 at Nova Siri (MT), Italy.

FIG. 1 shows rows of flowering young plants of the new cultivar on Jan. 15, 2013 where the flowers are disposed at approximately the same level as the foliage.

FIG. 2 shows fruiting plants of the new cultivar on Feb. 15, 2013 wherein the dense growth habit is shown.

FIG. 3 shows more mature fruiting plants of the new cultivar on Apr. 15, 2013 where the plant density is further illustrated.

FIG. 4 shows a crate of the fruit of the new cultivar that was collected on Mar. 15, 2013. The overall substantial uniformity of fruit shape and coloration is apparent with the virtual absence of second class fruit.

FIG. 5 shows a close view of the typical attractive conical fruit of the new cultivar. The fruit length and width at the widest point are substantially the same (i.e., near 1:1).

FIG. 6 shows close internal (top) and external (bottom) views of typical conical fruit of the new cultivar. The fruit cavity is small or absent.

FIG. 7 shows for comparative purposes typical fruit of the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar wherein the length to width ratio is approximately 1.2 to 1.3:1, unlike the near 1:1 ratio of the new cultivar.

FIG. 8 shows for comparative purposes the internal nature of typical fruit of the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar where a more pronounced variety is illustrated.

FIG. 9 shows the upper (i.e., adaxial) surfaces of a pair of typical leaves of the new cultivar. The terminal leaflet, unlike that of the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar, tends to be longer than its width.

FIG. 10 shows the under (i.e., abaxial) surfaces of a pair of typical leaves of the new cultivar. The slight elongation of the terminal leaflets is similarly illustrated.

FIG. 11 shows for comparative purposes a typical leaf of the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar wherein an elongation of the terminal leaflet is absent.

FIG. 12 illustrates a typical stipule of the new cultivar which tends to be larger than that of the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar and to bear some anthocyanin coloration unlike that of the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar.

FIG. 13 illustrates for comparative purposes a typical smaller stipule of the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar where anthocyanin coloration is absent.

FIG. 14 illustrates an obverse view of the typical open white flowers of the new cultivar wherein the arrangement of the stamen and pistils is shown. Yellow pollen is provided in abundance. Measurement in centimeters further is included for comparative purposes.

FIG. 15 illustrates for comparative purposes typical open corolla with calyx of the new ‘Margherita’ cultivar (top) and the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar (bottom). Unlike the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar, the diameter of the open calyx of the new cultivar commonly is less than that of the corolla (as illustrated).

FIG. 16 illustrates typical tendency for numerous stolon formation exhibited by the new cultivar.

FIG. 17 illustrates for comparative purposes the typical less frequent stolon formation exhibited by the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The described plants had been asexually reproduced by the use of stolons and were growing under the cover of plastic tunnels at Nova Siri (MT) Italy. The chart used in the identification of color is The R.H.S. Colour Chart (1995 Edition or equivalent) of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. Reference to common color terms is to be accorded ordinary dictionary significance.

-   Botanical class: Fragaria×ananassa, Duchesne, cv. ‘Margherita’. -   Plant:     -   -   Type.—Short-day.         -   Configuration.—Upright, relatively dense, and generally             globose.         -   Vigor.—Medium strong.         -   Height.—Commonly approximately 25 cm on average.         -   Width.—Commonly approximately 28 on average.         -   Leaflets.—Medium in size, commonly up to approximately 9.5             cm in length on average and up to approximately 8 cm in             width on average; the terminal leaflet commonly is longer in             length than width and commonly is approximately 8.5 cm in             length and approximately 7 cm in width, possess a concave             cross section, a serrate to crenate margin, and an acute             base; blistering commonly is absent; the glossiness on the             upper surface is medium; and variegated coloration commonly             is absent with the upper surface coloration commonly being             near Green Group 141A to 141B and the under surface commonly             being near Green Group 141C to 143D. Such coloration             commonly is darker than that of the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar.         -   Stolons.—Numerous in quantity, medium pubescence in density,             commonly near Green Group 141A to 142B in coloration, and             commonly bear some weak to medium anthocyanin coloration             commonly near Red-Purple Group 65C to 65D. Stolons commonly             are produced somewhat more numerously than the ‘Sabrosa’             cultivar (i.e., approximately 30 to 35% more) with             anthocyanin coloration commonly being absent on the stolons             of the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar.         -   Petioles.—Commonly approximately 17 to 21 cm in length on             average, near Green Group 149A in coloration, and commonly             bear horizontally disposed fine pubescence.         -   Stipules.—Larger than those of the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar as             illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, and commonly bear some             anthocyanin coloration unlike the stipules of the ‘Sabrosa’             cultivar where anthocyanin coloration was not observed. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering time.—Early.         -   Flower number.—Medium, commonly 4 or 5.         -   Pedicel hairs.—Pubescence generally disposed upwards.         -   Size.—Large, with primary flowers commonly being             approximately 2.8 cm in diameter on average, and secondary             flowers commonly being approximately 2.5 cm in diameter on             average.         -   Petals.—Overlapping, commonly number approximately 5 to 8 on             average, commonly greater in width than length, and near             White Group 155B to 155C in coloration.         -   Anthers.—Commonly number approximately 25 on average and             disposed slightly above the stamens. The plant is self             fertile.         -   Sepals.—Generally lanceolate in configuration, outwardly             disposed, commonly number approximately 10 to 14 which can             be compared to approximately 10 to 12 for the ‘Sabrosa’             cultivar, commonly approximately 4 to 7 mm in length on             average and approximately 2 to 3 mm in width on average at             the broadest point, unlike the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar the             diameter of the open calyx commonly is generally less than             that of the corolla (as illustrated in FIG. 15), and the             coloration is commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144B to 144C             when viewed from below the open corolla. -   Fruit:     -   -   Bearing.—Non-remontant.         -   Timing.—Early-fruiting commonly with approximately 30 to 35             days from first blooming to first fruit ripening. This can             be compared to approximately 35 to 40 days between first             blooming and first fruit ripening for the ‘Sabrosa’             cultivar.         -   Shape.—Generally conical in configuration, and substantially             uniform with commonly only a slight shape difference between             terminal and other fruit.         -   Size.—Large, with the primary fruit commonly being             approximately 5 to 5.5 cm in length and width at the             broadest point.         -   Surface.—Generally smooth with strong glossiness.         -   External color.—Substantially uniform and commonly near Red             Group 40A to Red Group 44B.         -   Internal color.—Medium red, and commonly near Red Group 40A             to 40B.         -   Firmness.—Good, with medium flesh firmness.         -   Cavity.—Very small or absent fruit cavity (as illustrated in             FIG. 6).         -   Achenes.—Located below the fruit surface and cover nearly             the entire fruit surface commonly with only a narrow band of             3 to 4 mm where achenes are absent, and commonly near             Orange-Red Group 33B to 33C in coloration.         -   Calyx.—Commonly substantially level at end of fruit with             strong adherence to fruit.         -   Peduncle.—Approximately 10 to 12 cm in length on average for             primary and secondary fruit, approximately 1.5 mm in             diameter on average, commonly near Yellow-Green Group 149A             in coloration.         -   Pedicel.—Commonly with pubescence extending slightly             outwards.

SUPPLEMENTAL COMPARATIVE DATA

Hereafter, comparative fruit data is provided for the new ‘Margherita’ cultivar and the ‘Sabrosa’ cultivar. On Oct. 15, 2012 plots of fifty (50) plants of each cultivar were planted in four (4) replications at Nova Siri (MT), Italy. The plants had been asexually reproduced by the use of stolons and were growing under the cover of plastic tunnels. The fruit was evaluated and compared during 2013 on the dates indicated. Average data is presented.

Accumulated Production of First Quality Fruit (g/plant) Cultivar February 30^(th) March 30^(th) April 30^(th) May 30^(th) ′Margherita′ 1.65 124 528 883 ′Sabrosa′ none  73 270 589

Average Fruit Weight on Specified Dates March 30^(th) April 30^(th) May 30^(th) First Second First Second First Second Quality Quality Quality Quality Quality Quality Cultivar (grams) (grams) (grams) (grams) (grams) (grams) ′Margherita′ 39.20 21.22 38.80 19.40 38.70 13.20 ′Sabrosa′ 25.20 16.00 29.50 17.50 21.33 11.07

Comparison of Accumulated Fruit Production May 30^(th) First Quality Second Quality Total Percent Second Cultivar (grams) (grams) (grams) Quality ′Margherita′ 883 82 965  8.5% ′Sabrosa′ 589 92 681 13.5%

Overall Comparison of Fruit Weight Cultivar g/fruit ′Margherita′ 30.45 ′Sabrosa′ 22.50

Fruit Analysis ′Margherita′ ′Sabrosa′ Firmness (average)* 0.60 0.63 Dry Matter (%)** 7.80 7.50 pH (to 20°) 3.55 3.50 Acidity as Anhydride Citric (%) 0.75 0.75 Soluble Solids (% Brix) 8.27 8.66 Maturity Index 11.02 11.54 *Resistance to penetration measured in kilograms using a Turoni (Italy) pentrometer (20 Kg × 0.01). **Weight of residue from the titration of the fruit after drying at 103° C. until a constant weight is achieved.

Plants of the new ‘Margherita’ cultivar have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct short-day strawberry plant that exhibits the following combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a dense, upright, generally globose growth habit, (b) displays on an early basis white inflorescence at approximately the same level as the foliage, (c) commonly displays a calyx that is generally smaller than the corolla when open, and (d) forms in abundance early-ripening substantially uniform bright red conical fruit having firm flesh; substantially as illustrated and described. 